Rebinding of books



Oct. 29. 1940. N. D. BASSETT- REBINDING OF BOOKS Filed March 25, 1938 INVENTOR NORMAN D. BA $ETT Patented Oct. 29, 1940 UNITED STATES 2,219,553 REBINDING OF BOOKS Norman D. Bassett, Madison, Wis.,

' Demco Library Supplies, Inc., Madison,

corporation of Wisconsin assignor to Wis., a

Application March 25, 1938, Serial No. 198,034

3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in the rebinding of books. 1 i

It is the primary object of the invention to provide means whereby libraries and other users of books can, without expensive facilities, attach new cases to worn volumes with ease and to produce a stronger and more satisfactory binding than it has heretofore been possible to obtain outside of a professional bindery.

Since much of the strength of the binding depends upon the nature of the so-called hinge at which the cover of the case is nected with the contents, it is particularly a purpose of the invention to provide improved means by which sufficient stock is provided at the hinge and means is provided for the manipulation of such stock in the rebinding of the book to establish a proper hinge, the materials involved, and their disposition in the article being likewise important.

Other objects will appear disclosure.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a view in perspective showing the first step in the application of the books contents to the binding unit which provides an important constituent of my invention.

Figure 2 showsin perspective the binding as it appears applied to the back portion of the contents.

Figure 3 shows in perspective the bindingunit folded upon the contents and trimmed with respect to the ends and back edge.

Figure 4 shows in perspective the first step in applying the binding unit-to the .case.

Figure 5 shows in perspective the first step of the final connection of the binding unit to the contents.

Figure 6 is a greatly enlarged diagrammatic detail view in section showing the completely rebound volume.

Like parts are identified by the same reference characters throughout the several views.

The binding unit embodying the present i nvention comprises two strips of fabric 1 and 8, the strip 8 being wider than strip 1 and the two strips being stitched together at 9. This unit will be supplied in different widths so far as the fabric strips and the rows of stitching are concerned. The space between the rows of stitching should conform approximately to the thickness from the following of the contents of the book to be rebound, but

should preferably be slightly wider and usually no narrower than the thickness of the contents. For example, in practice, it is preferred that hingedly confor a book measuring 1 thick through the contents the stitching in the repair binding unit should be at least 1 /4" apart.

I have found it important in actual practice to use fabrics for the strips 1 and 8. I use Canton flannel for strip 1 and cambric for strip 8. Q

My improved binding unit includes leaves or sheaths of strong paper, connected to the'margins of the fabric strips 1 and 8 outside of the 0 rows of stitching at 9., To each margin of strip 8 there is cemented a paper sheet In. To each margin of strip 1 there is cemented a paper sheet ll. These sheets are sufiiciently large to be atleast co-extensive with the covers of the new case to be provided for the-book.

The back portion M of the contents l5 and the flannel strip 1 coated with adhesive as indicated in the drawing by the presence of a brush, which, for identification, is marked l6 as applied to the back portion of the contents and as marked I! as applied to the flannel strip 1. These adhesively treated surfaces are now put together as shown in Fig. 2, care being taken to leave the back surface I4 of the contents exactly centered between the rows of stitching 9 in the rebinding unit.

At this point the end papers H perform a function important to the ultimate success of the rebinding job. From a position shown in Fig. 2 these papers are pulled by the operators hands up against the faces of the contents, thereby assuring a smooth tight fit of the flannel strip 1 on the back of the contents. Without the sheets II it is difficult, if not impossible, to perform this important step.

The sheets H are now trimmed to conform in size to the contents. The sheets 10, while trimmed in registry with the top and bottom margins of the contents, are allowed to project somewhat at the edge as shown at I8 in Fig. 3.

The entire center IQ of the back is now coated with adhesive and the cambric strip 8 of the binding unit as applied to the back of the contents is pressed into the central portion of the case. With the book closed and the two covers parallel, the contents are pressed firmly into place. By running the index finger down the front of the contents the back will be rounded into its original shape and closely fitted, and the cambric strip of the binding unit will be firmly bonded to the center I9 of the case.

The rebinding unit is now cemented to the contents solely at its center by means of the flannel strip 1 and cemented to the case solely at its center by means of the cambric strip 8. One of the covers 20 is now opened and supported on any suitable block as at 2! and the opened cover and the exposed face of sheet In are coated with adhesive after which such sheet is cemented to the cover. The book is closed over the pasted end sheet l0 and is then opened and any adjustment necessary is made while the paste is still wet, the effort being to eliminate wrinkles and leave adequate material for the hinge. Then the book cover should be opened and shut several times before the page dries, thus forming a hinge from the excess stock in the fabric web 8.

After this operation has been repeated on both covers the binding unit is now connected to both covers of the case, as well as to the intermediate portion l9 thereof, but there is no connection between the binding unit and the contents except at the back M of the contents. Accordingly the final step involves the pasting of each sheet H to the adjacent exposed leaf 22 of the contents as shown in Fig. 5. This will give the completed book a single end sheet of double weight at back and front.

The book is then closed, the cover pulled tightly toward the outer edge of the contents, and a stylus or bone folder may be run down the hinge to crease it.

The completed book is shown in Fig. 6 with the contents illustrated diagrammatically at E5. The flannel web I and its associated paper leaves II are adhesively secured to the contents. The cambric web 8 is stitched to the flannel at 9 and the cambric web and its associated paper leaves II] are adhesively secured to the case, the paper sheet It! being fastened to the cover 2!! and the cambric being adhesively joined to the back portion IQ of the case.

As clearly appears from Fig. 6, which represents the preferred proportion of the parts, the line of stitching 9 has been drawn about the margin or shoulder of the contents so that it is located adjacent a flat face of the fly-leaf of the contents. In this location the adhesive applied to the fly-leaf will work in and around the thread, thus forming an intergral unit andrelieving the stitching of strain.

I am aware of the fact that units for book repair are known, but the features herein disclosed will provide a more permanent and much stronger repair than is possible with any repair unit previously known to me.

It will be observed that my improved book repair unit may be regarded as comprising two elements connected by spaced rows of stitching and each substantially co-extensive with the case. I regard it as important that the central portions of these elements are made of the fabric materials specified but, both from the standpoint of economy and appearance'it is desirable that the extension leaves ll of the first element and the extension leaves M of the second element be made of paper.

I claim:

1. In a book of the type having contents provided with a shouldered back portion and fly leaves with exposed faces extending to the shoulders of the back portion, and a case comprising covers and a back connecting the covers. a repair unit connecting the case and contents and comprising in combination a pair of superimposed strips of fabric, parallel rows of stitching connecting said strips along lines spaced inwardly from their margins and separated by a distance such that the intervening portions of said strips extend about the back of the contents and around the shoulders to dispose said rows of stitching on said fly leaf faces, and sheets of strong paper adhesively connected with the margins of said strips and with the faces of the fly leaves and the covers respectively and being substantially co-extensive therewith.

2. In a book structure, the combination with contents having a shouldered back portion and fly leaves having exposed faces extending to the shoulders, and a case comprising covers and an intervening flexible back, of a book repair unit comprising a flannel strip adhesively connected with the back of the contents and extending about the shoulders thereof in adhesive connection with the adjacent face portion of the fly leaves, a relatively wider strip of cambric superimposed upon the flannel strip and adhesively connected to the back and adjacent cover portions of the case, stitching connecting said strips beyond said shoulders and adhesively connected with the exposed faces of the fly leaves, and paper sheets marginally connected with the said strips and respectively connected adhesively to the fly leaves and the covers substantially throughout their respective areas.

3. A- method of book repair involving the con nection of a case to book contents having a shouldered back and exposed fly leaf faces by means of a repair unit comprising two cloth webs connected by spaced rows of stitching and having extension leaves projecting toward the open edges of contents and case, said method comprising adhesively applying the center of the inner web to theback of the contents and about the shoulders thereof on to said fly leaves to locate the rows of stitching on the faces of the fly leaves, adhesively applying the extension leaves of the outer web to the inner faces of the cover portions of the case, concurrently drawing the extension leaves of the outer web under tension along opposite-sides of the contents whereby to position the rows of stitching securely upon the fly leaves, the opening and closing of the covers of the case to form the hinge, and adhesively connecting the extension leaves of the inner web to the fly leaves of the contents.

NORMAN D. BASSETT.

CPI 

